From beginning to end, Princess Chang Le was like a virtuous empress, quietly sitting beside Fan Li, only lightly nestling against him. Even when Zhao Gao took out the Records of the First Emperor, Princess Chang Le's gaze didn't linger on it for even a moment.
Fan Li was truly impressed. He didn't know what kind of treasure the records were, or what incredible contents were recorded in it. But Princess Chang Le clearly wanted it very much, yet she pretended to have no interest in the records at all. Just this feat of restraint alone made Fan Li feel he couldn't compare.
After smoothly obtaining the Records of the First Emperor, Princess Chang Le smiled brightly at Fan Li. "Its value is even higher than the Sword of the Qin Emperor. Don't you want it?"
Fan Li hadn't expected the princess to ask this. Fan Li thought for a bit then shook his head. "Everyone wants good things, but we have a cooperative relationship. This thing is definitely very important to you. I promised to help you get it, naturally I won't be greedy and compete with you for it."
"Hehehehe..." Princess Chang Le laughed very strangely.
As always, in her unrestrained laughter, there seemed to be a faint trace of comfort, and also a hint of sorrow. It was as if she regretted encountering Fan Li, or perhaps regretted their current relationship.
"The Records of the First Emperor... records the method to become the Celestial Emperor from an emperor." As Princess Chang Le spoke, her eyes flashed with a sharp light, staring fixedly at Fan Li.
If Fan Li showed even the slightest hint of greed towards the Records of the First Emperor after hearing her, Princess Chang Le might have flipped out. But strangely, she could have completely not revealed the secret in the records, yet she still chose to do so.
In the face of enormous benefits, human nature was often unable to withstand the test. With Princess Chang Le's temperament, she really shouldn't have used such a childish method to test Fan Li.
"Oh? That powerful huh." Fan Li nodded, although he was also very shocked, he didn't show much interest.
Princess Chang Le stared at him for a good while, drawing closer and closer, until their noses were nearly touching. Finally, the princess abruptly pulled back a step!
"Hahahahaha!"
She burst out laughing loudly, extremely carefreely, seeming to completely vent the emotions in her heart.
Fan Li only quietly listened to her laugh until the laughter gradually faded.
"Actually, I don't like being an empress." Princess Chang Le slowly stood up, aloof and independent. The loose smile on her face disappeared without a trace, replaced by a majestic aura looking down on the world! "I want to become the Celestial Emperor of an era!"
Fan Li's mouth fell wide open, unable to close for quite a while. He really was shocked by Princess Chang Le's ambition.
Celestial Emperor?
Not just emperor or empress, she actually wanted to be Celestial Emperor?
Seeing his doubtful expression, Princess Chang Le disdainfully said, "With my abilities, I'm fully capable of becoming the Son of Heaven of Great Han. Do you believe I can make Father Emperor voluntarily abdicate, or even make Dong Zhuo restrain his wild ambitions and swear allegiance to me?"
Fan Li nodded then shook his head. For the former, he believed it. Because he had seen Han Emperor Xian. With that Son of Heaven's temperament and breadth of mind, he really could be forced to abdicate.
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As for the latter, Fan Li didn't believe it. Not because of anything else, simply because he hadn't seen Dong Zhuo at all, so he couldn't make a fair and objective judgement.
Princess Chang Le smiled slightly, fairly satisfied with Fan Li's attitude. "I don't want to become the Han Son of Heaven because the current Great Han is extremely weakened and has already lost the potential for the entire nation to ascend."
Seeing Fan Li reveal a doubtful look, she waved the jade token in her hand.
"Only the Son of Heaven who brings the entire nation to ascend has the qualifications acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao to establish an Immortal Realm heaven and become the Celestial Emperor of an era."
Fan Li understood. The First Emperor from ten thousand years ago was already an Immortal Realm Celestial Emperor of a direction.
Fan Li also recalled something and asked, "You have such great ambition, so why did you still become the Great Chu empress? You also said you'd give birth to my children?"
"Hehehe… I don't want to talk about the first question. For the second question, I'm a woman, so of course only I can give birth to children. But if I become Celestial Emperor, even if I get pregnant with your child, it'll be you who becomes the empress, hehehehe!"
Fan Li instantly had a head full of black lines.
Damn!
Why was it this kind of crappy answer? If he knew earlier he wouldn't have asked!
"Uh, don't worry. I'll keep your ambition... cough cough, great ambition a secret."
After Fan Li spoke, he also pondered to himself. He had obtained the Records of the First Emperor, but he still promised Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan to help them get the Sword of the Qin Emperor.
That golden sword was in Zhao Gao's hands. Getting it shouldn't be difficult.
***
The next day.
Fan Li and Princess Chang Le left the jade pool and came to the immortal palace's main hall, Lingxiao Hall. Zhao Gao had long since knelt on the floor, the edict of the First Emperor held in his hands.
"After reading the records, We are moved by Our Ancestor the First Emperor's breadth of mind in unifying the realm and embracing all things. We have decided to exempt you from your tomb guarding duties."
"Zhao Gao, prepare to enter reincarnation."
Hearing Fan Li say this, Zhao Gao shook with excitement. "Your servant Zhao Gao knocks thanks to Our Exalted Emperor for his eternal life!"
Fan Li glanced at the Sword of the Qin Emperor worn at Zhao Gao's waist. "This sword was originally Our Ancestor the First Emperor's personal weapon. Since you've always carried it at your side, you might as well bring it into reincarnation with you."
Hearing Fan Li say this, Princess Chang Le's face instantly revealed shock. Zhao Gao who still knelt on the floor was also stunned for a moment.
Fan Li continued. "You once swore to loyally serve Great Qin generation after generation. After you're reborn, you must diligently cultivate to ascend as an immortal, then bring the Sword of the Qin Emperor to the Great Qin Immortal Realm and personally return it to Our Celestial Emperor."
"This... This..." Just thinking about it, Zhao Gao frightened out a body full of cold sweat. "Your Majesty, spare my life! Your servant dares not shoulder this heavy responsibility!"
"Oh? Why do you say so?" Fan Li deliberately asked.
Zhao Gao repeatedly kowtowed and pleaded for mercy. "The path of cultivation is long and winding, and your servant bears sins on his body. I fear I will have much greater difficulty passing tribulations to ascend compared to ordinary people. If by chance I perish during cultivation or while overcoming tribulation, I will inevitably lose the precious sword. If that really happens, even if your servant falls into animal reincarnation, it still won't be enough to redeem my crimes!"
Fan Li frowned. "Then what should be done?"
Zhao Gao quickly said, "Can Your Majesty please take custody of the treasure sword? As the Son of Heaven, Your Majesty has the fortune of heaven protecting you. In the future you will definitely easily ascend the Immortal Realm. With the sword in Your Majesty's hands, it will inevitably remain safe without even the slightest error, only then can it smoothly return to the First Emperor someday."
"Hmm..." Fan Li deliberately put on a displeased appearance. "Zhao Gao, you are but a servant, yet you repeatedly make me run errands for you. What reasoning is this?"
"I... This is because your servant is useless! Your servant is trash! Causing trouble for Your Majesty, your servant ought to be beaten!"
Slap slap slap!
Zhao Gao, this dried corpse monster at the Great Vehicle Realm, actually slapped his own face as punishment. Throughout the entire immortal palace, only the sound of Zhao Gao's slaps echoed.
Princess Chang Le watched from the side, truly admiring Fan Li a bit. ‘He's way too good an actor. It's obviously something he himself wants, yet he managed to startle Zhao Gao like that.’
‘The Emperor's records that every ten thousand years, the Heavenly Dao allows for an additional position of Celestial Emperor. Now, the ten thousand years have passed. Fortunately, Fan Li has no ambitions. Otherwise, if he were to vie with me for the position of Celestial Emperor, wouldn't it force me into a life-and-death struggle with him?’